Chapter 3 – To the Knights Once Again

With each step, the leaves crunch under my toes.

We were walking diligently through the forest, bathed in the sunlight coming down through the dense trees.

“…”

Agnes, who was ahead, looked uncomfortable and said nothing.

Anyone would be offended if a wild animal or something like that tried to enter their house with feet of clay.
That was exactly the case in her current state of mind.

I was itching to ask why and how I was betrayed in my past life, but it was not the time to reveal my identity yet, so I kept quiet.

As he continued to move his feet like that, Agnes, who had been quiet, called me without even looking back.

“Hey.”

“Yes?”

“What will a human being do when he meets the Queen?”

“It’s not easy to live alone in a strange land. I will ask you to accept me as a citizen.”

“Huh. That doesn’t even seem like a joke.”

She snorted and continued her words, still looking at her back.

“If you really mean it, you’d better give up. There’s no way he would allow it.”

“Why?”

“Humans are a lowly species obsessed with desire. In the end, they even brought in the devil when they became corrupted.”

Her words are true.

According to the story I heard in my past life, there were two races, humans and elves, on a huge continent called Elora.

Unlike elves who loved stability and peace, humans pursued adventure and pioneering and quickly developed civilization.

However, as it was revived without fierce competition, the human kingdom had the side effect of excessive confidence.
With abundant resources, all humans enjoyed luxury and color, and as a result, Ellora became overflowing with laziness and pleasure.

The story is that through such negative emotions, the Demon King from another world came over and wiped out all the humans, and by absorbing their turbid emotions, the Demon King became stronger and even threatened the elves.

Neither Agnes nor the queen of the elf kingdom originally liked humans, but this incident served as an opportunity to further strengthen their hostility toward humans.

“It would be impossible for the Queen to let such a person into her kingdom, even if the sky were to fall.”

“Okay.”

She pretended not to know, but she knew from first-hand experience that the queen and her entourage hated humans.

‘Rather, I want to know the reason why Wangseong betrayed. It’s not like they wanted to get rid of me just because they don’t like humans… No, is that really all it is?’

It seemed difficult to be sure what was right just yet, so I stopped thinking and went back to the conversation.

“Still, I have to ask.”

“Foolishness. In fact, useless stubbornness is also a human characteristic.”

“Anyway, I have no place to go other than the elf kingdom. I will enter the kingdom no matter what.”

When I answered without the slightest hesitation, Agnes spoke as if she had given up.

“Do whatever you want. I only need to hear about the medicinal herbs from you. If you get better safely, we will overlook your crime of arrogantly trying to have an audience with the Queen. Instead, don’t let us see you again.”

‘Well, I think we’ll see each other often from now on.’

How long did we walk without conversation again?
We finally arrived at our destination.

I, a human, could never pass through the main gate of the castle wall alone, but with Agnes, the leader of the Queen’s Order of Knights, I was able to enter very easily.

‘It’s still amazing.’

A magnificent royal castle stretching high into the sky in a splendid style.
It was a spectacle fit for an elf queen, but when I stood in front of it again, I had only two impressions.

One is that it would be impossible for me to face this huge force head-on alone.

The other was that, while criticizing human greed, elves, who lead lives similar to humans, did not look very different.

Anyway, as promised, I told Agnes about an herb that could cure poison.

And without knowing what consequences the herb would bring, she finally reached the Elf Queen’s throne room.

A luxurious throne perched atop a tall staircase.
Nermedia, the leader of the Elven Kingdom, who was sitting on top of him, greeted his knight with the most elegant voice.

“Welcome, Agnes.”

There was a time when I admired the Queen’s old-fashioned beauty.
Not just her, but the other elves as well, including Agnes.

I hoped that if I, as a warrior, helped them defeat the demon lord, I would be recognized as a member of this country and I would be able to get a little closer to them.

Of course, as you know, those expectations were shattered.

“Agnes, Commander of the Wings of Dawn Knights. I’m back now.”

The knight commander bends one knee to show respect.
I was standing next to him, so I lowered myself.

“I was worried because you went out alone. Why didn’t you take other drivers with you?”

Ner Medea’s expression as she looks down at her knight commander and her tone of voice are affectionate, as if she were dealing with her daughter.

It was her characteristic to maintain her queenly dignity at all times.

It seemed so beautiful in my past life, but I know it now.
It is said that inside that gorgeous shell is filled with a mean disposition and contempt for humans.

One day, I will definitely take off that mask and make you regret what you did to me.

“The sisters of the Knights seem to be exhausted from the recent ongoing investigation… We apologize for any inconvenience caused.”

“As long as Agnes is safe, that’s it. But I’ll have to hear about the results separately later. Some two-legged beast has set foot in the sacred castle.”

Although he speaks sarcastically at people he’s meeting for the first time in a classy tone, he doesn’t even look at me.

Unlike me, who clicked her tongue inwardly, Agnes bowed her head even more.

“I have no shame. I met her by chance in the forest, and she said she wanted to see the queen even if she had to die, so I had no choice…”

The story about how I helped the dying Agnes was omitted, but I didn’t bother to correct it.
This is because Agnes’ divine order was to keep what happened in the forest a secret.

It wasn’t a bad idea to cooperate with her request and give her a debt, so I gladly accepted it.

“Not only did he let his men rest, but Agnes was too weak-hearted to get off. It would have been easier to just ignore the cries of the monkey. So, why did you want to meet me?”

It seems as if it doesn’t even want to make eye contact with humans, and ignores me until the end.

So Agnes got to the point instead of me.

“It is not easy to live alone in Elora, so he hopes to become a member of our elves.”

“Oh my. How can a beast become one of us? That is impossible.”

To be rejected without even a second of hesitation.

Without giving me a chance to say anything, Nermedia continued the conversation again without me.

“Anyway, I wondered how the destroyed humans remained, and it seems there is land beyond the sea surrounding Elora. Are there other humans there, too, Agnes? I don’t think it would be very pleasant if something like that came across the sea again.”

“I’m also good at that…”

“Ha…”

A sigh that conveys one’s true feelings, wondering if one should really talk to that monkey.
Soon the queen’s eyes turned to me.

“What’s your name?”

“This is Dayke.”

This name has no special meaning.
It was just engraved on the belt I was wearing.

“Okay, Dake. You can answer my question, right?”

“Before I crossed the sea, I had never seen another human or elf.”

To be honest, I don’t know what’s in there, but these elves have no way of knowing anyway, so I just looked around.

As if that was the answer the Queen had been hoping for, she nodded slightly and looked down at her own knight.

“That’s a good thing. I’m done talking now… Agnes? Please see this person out.”

“Yes, Queen.”

It is clear that the intention is not to send them off, but to monitor them to prevent them from doing anything else.

“Now, wake up. Do you remember what I said? I told you clearly that you, a human, have no place here.”

“…”

“I told you to wake up.”

Despite Agnes’ words, my knees stuck to the floor and did not come off.

“Give up when they say nice things. Are you going to come to your senses if you are kicked out by force?”

She grabbed my arm and tried to force me up, but she still held on with all her might.

There was a brief scuffle, and eventually her voice became heavy.

“How long are you going to hold out? If you don’t follow this, I won’t stand still.”

Agnes pulled out her sword and pointed it at me.
They didn’t attack me right away for fear that my blood would stain the throne room floor, but their eyes were full of displeasure as they looked at me.

Still, there was obviously a reason why I didn’t budge.

‘Isn’t it time to come?’

“Stand on your feet, now!”

“Ha… Really.”

As the queen sighed following Agnes’ shouting, the elf guards nearby came towards me.

“If you can’t walk on your own, we have to help you.”

With the queen’s words as a signal, the guards’ spears surround the area.

The sharp spear blade is gradually narrowing the distance, and now it can be reached with just a small push.
An atmosphere that will pierce my body as soon as a command is given.

At this point, my heart, which had been calm until now, began to beat busily.
No matter how much I don’t want to dirty this place with blood, it’s clear that if I keep holding on, they’ll eventually kill me.

‘Come now, please!’

“It’s a waste of time, guard.”

It was a time when the deadly force of the tip of the spear became stronger following the queen’s call.

“Oh my!”

‘Come!’

Everyone’s attention was focused on the suddenly opened throne room door.

Standing there was the kingdom’s princess and queen’s daughter, Iril.
The person who was most surprised by her appearance was none other than the Queen.

“Baby, why are you here… Isn’t it time to be in the garden now?”

“I came here after hearing that a human had come to visit the castle. Since Mama hates humans so much, I was worried that they might cause trouble… I’m glad it wasn’t too late.”

“…”

“Agnes. Why are the guards pointing their spears at that person? Did that person do a great disservice to my mom?”

“Well, that is…”

“Tell me, Agnes.”

As Agnes reluctantly explained the situation, the princess looked at me with a face full of pity.

“It’s too much to try to chase away someone who came to me because they have nowhere to go alone, mamama.”

“Baby, the author is a human being. A human being who is so dirty and ugly that he even brought in the devil. But how can you accept it? It’s something I can’t do even for your own safety.”

“Not all humans are like that, like Alvin!”

As soon as my name came out of the princess’s mouth, my heart sank.
Even while trying to pretend that nothing had happened, she continued her words.

“Alvin was a good human being who loved peace like us elves. Her mother knew that!”

Iril was the only elf among the main elves in the castle who showed me favor.
While the Queen and the Knight Commander only used me as a means to exorcise the Demon King, she was the only one who treated me as a comrade.

The sight of her mother and daughter fighting like this was a sight she had often seen in her past life.

As soon as Lilly heard that Momma was being mean to me, she would immediately come running and take my side.

Then, the predetermined scenario was for Ner Media, who was exceptionally weak towards her daughter, to take a step back with a bitter look on her face.

“Iril, that person is not Alvin.”

“But he’s a good person like Alvin. Look at that desperate face. He just needs a place to live. Please, mom. Please help him. Yes?”

“Baby, please…”

‘Good. Luckily it went as planned.’

Ever since I asked Agnes to take me to the royal castle, I had been planning on getting Iril’s help.

Just as she did to me in her past life, Iril will try to help her lonely human, and NerMedia has never been better than her precious daughter.

How did you know that Ilil would come to her throne room?

According to her memories of her past life, Lil, who had just become an adult at the age of an elf, was always in the royal castle, so she was very interested in what was happening inside and outside the castle.

And the royal castle’s maid elves also liked to talk about other people, and stories that reached their ears would quickly spread throughout the castle.

The visit of humans who were thought to be extinct is a huge issue in itself.
The maid who saw me entering her royal castle would naturally spread the rumor to her colleagues, and it was sure to reach the ears of the princess who liked to chat with her maid.

‘That’s why Iril came here.’

Everything was as I expected.
However, the princess’s story that followed was quite unexpected.

“We couldn’t do anything for Alvin. He even jumped into the sea of ​​fire with the Demon King to protect us. It’s thanks to Alvin that she lives so peacefully, so she should repay him by helping people like him.”

She jumped to her death with the devil, so it seems like she doesn’t know the details.

“If you don’t do me a favor, I won’t talk to you anymore!”

“Baby, what is that…!”

NerMedia cannot help but be shocked by her daughter’s bombshell remark, which would not hurt even if it were put in her eyes.
Beads of sweat flowed from my forehead, which was as smooth and white as drawing paper.

“Yes, but dear. Wouldn’t the elf sisters be afraid if there were humans in the kingdom?”

“The sisters outside the castle don’t hate humans as much as Irmamma. The only ones who hate humans this much are Irmamma and a few elves inside the castle!”

“But suddenly living with another race…”

Nermedia’s momentum, which had been upright until a while ago, has weakened significantly.

I think it’s time for me to step forward.

“Add me to the knighthood!”

“I beg your pardon?”
“What!”

The Queen and the Commander of the Knights are both surprised at the same time, no matter who goes first.

“If you take me, I want to fight for the peace of the kingdom like that Alvin. Also, if she lives in the barracks as a soldier, won’t she be likely to get involved with the elves outside the castle?”

“…It’s not wrong. Besides, if you stay with the knights, you won’t be able to do anything foolish.”

She feels sorry for the queen who says that, but she is already full of plans to do foolish things.

“Agnes. May I ask for this person?”

“Yes?”

“No matter how much I think about it, I think it will be the safest to leave it to Agnes.”

“Humans to me, our knights…”

He is speechless, as if he never dreamed that the arrow would come towards him.
It was a completely different situation from before, when he loudly shouted that there was no place for humans here.

‘Isn’t it daunting to have to live with humans again?’

No matter how difficult it is, is it possible to defy instructions from superiors?
The knight commander’s next reply was Thorin, who completely crawled on the ground.

“…All right.”

“Well, now that it’s resolved, let’s all go out. Baby, are you feeling relieved now?”

“Yes. Thank you, Mom! As expected, I have nothing but Mom!”

“Do I really like you? I shouldn’t be this weak-hearted… Huh, no. Now go back to your room.”

After bowing and bowing, I left the throne room, turning my back on the conversation between the elf mother and daughter.

Unlike me, who had a light expression due to a smooth start, Agnes, who became my boss again, looked like she had chewed shit.

That sight was extremely refreshing, so he said with a grin.

“I said that, right? I said I’d come in no matter what.”

“…”

“Please take care of me from now on, Captain?”

In the end, her eyebrows furrowed even further.
As if I had come into contact with a poison worse than the poison remaining in my body.